By John E. Powers
South Hunterdon Regional High School’s field hockey team experienced a rare losing season last year, finishing up at 5-11-2.
Head coach Andrea Burroughs would love to see the team get back to its winning ways, and return to the North Jersey, Section 2, Group I playoffs. In 2006, the Eagles went 11-7 and made the sectional playoffs.
The Eagles will have to do without a solid group of seniors front-liners Christina Aiello, Nicole Case and Lara Coleman, and defenders Rachel Parsons and Kaitlyn Aversa all lost to graduation.
But the good news is that many talented players return, including senior co-captains Stephanie Davis and Angelique Platas, who will play forward and sweeper, respectively. Senior midfield/back Brittany Ennis and senior midfielder Brittany Shurts return. Davis led the team with seven goals last season and Shurts had two.
Reliable junior goalie Leslie Salisbury also returns, as do junior forward Kayla Ribsam, sophomore forward Sarah Phillips and sophomore middie/back Emily Marley. Phillips scored five goals last year and Marley had three.
”We have eight kids back from last year and eight freshmen,” Burroughs said. “We lost some good players, but the kids coming back can be special.”
Last season, the team had to put up with the ongoing construction at the high school that delayed the opening of school until Sept. 11. The Eagles had to practice at the West Amwell Township municipal building, not far from the high school.
But they are ahead of last year.
”We have had plenty of time to prepare for this season and my assistant coach, Colleen Perry, and I feel that the girls are ready for game one,” Burroughs said. “We still have some things we need to work on and we still need to add some finesse to our playing. We have overcome many obstacles and are working hard to keep this program alive.”
The freshmen are giving the program a boost. Back Grace Dienes, forward Melissa Aversa, backs Lina Restrepo, Emily Siegel and Karli Ribsam, middies Becca Hendricks and Kelly Albanir and goalie Andrea Wisnewski have worked hard in the preseason.
”With the returning seniors, we have a mix of strong offense and defensive positions,” Burroughs said. “Leslie Salsbury is back in goal and Andrea Wisnewski is following closely in her footsteps thanks to coach Perry, who does wonderful things with our goalies. It’s great to have a young team because they have such potential for growth. All of my returning players, including these new freshmen, are strong and reliable players.
”We have a lot of girls moving around from midfield to forward,” she said. “The different combinations we have tried have all been strong and I think will definitely be a strength this season.”
The team is confident it can get back to a winning season.
”I think we can be a solid team,” Ennis said. “We just want to keep the reputation of playing good field hockey at South Hunterdon alive. We will be ready.”
The season begins Friday when the Eagles play host to Belvidere at 3:45. The Eagles then play at Delaware Valley next Tuesday. Delaware Valley also is coming off a losing season at 8-9-2, and lost 10 seniors.

